The colour of New Zealand black beech heartwood ranges from honey coloured to light brown, sometimes with darker blackish streaks adding interest to the grain. The sapwood is light brown. The grain is straight, with a fine and even texture and a rich lustre.

Black beech heartwood is durable and can be used in exterior exposed situations. It is suitable for outdoor decking and achieves Hazard Class H3.2 durability. Pathological heartwood is non-durable. Black beech sapwood is suitable for internal end-uses and is resistant to anobium and lyctus borers.

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